Updates / Backups / Upgrades / Caching

The Drupal community regularly updates the code base for the currently supported versions. Modules are often updated as well ( usually for security reasons ) If using Drupal 5, best to get on the drupal security email list to be alerted when updates are out. Drupal 6 has a new feature to alert you of updates with in the administration pages. Update, however, are still a fairly manual process.

Backups:

Our strategy includes:

Nightly backups including database dump sent to mass store service.

Instant database replication to backup server.

Rsync of code and user files on 5 minute cycles to backup server.

Upgrades:

Our library's website is kinda in a pickle when it comes to upgrading to Drupal 6 !!!

Caching:

We tried to stay away from caching, preferring instant gratification on page edits, until the site crashed a couple of times.... We are now using caching with a minimum page refresh of ten minutes.